Driving in Bad Weather

Driving in bad weather shouldn't make you a bad driver. Staying safe on the road means knowing how to handle various situations. After all, your car performs differently depending on the weather, road conditions and other factors. Here are some general tips for driving in bad weather.

Winter driving tips

If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, understand that driving on icy, slick or snow-packed road requires special skills and driving approaches. A few winter driving tips:

Use snow tires. Snow tires have tread patterns designed to dig into snow and ice. Plus they're made from softer rubber compounds that allow them to better conform to the surface of the road. Regular tires tend to get hard and brittle in the cold.

Drive with caution. Reduce your speed and leave 3 times more space than usual between you and the car ahead. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.

Control your skid. Take your foot off the gas and steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side.

Fall driving safety tips

By the time fall rolls around, most drivers are used to the smooth driving conditions of summer. Stay alert when driving in the fall; you may get an unexpected early snow, so be prepared to adjust your driving when inclement weather hits. And if you’re traveling down a road that is covered with fallen leaves, be cautious. Wet leaves can produce slick driving conditions, especially around curves.

Driving in the rain

Driving in the rain demands attention to the task at hand. Water on the road surface reduces the traction of your tires, making it easier to skid or hydroplane (your tires actually ride on top of the water), so drive slowly and carefully. Be aware of visibility limitations, too. If you’re caught in heavy rain and can’t see well enough to drive confidently, pull off the road and turn on your emergency flashers until the rain passes.

The provided information and safety suggestions were obtained from sources believed to be reliable and is intended for informational purposes only. Titan and its affiliates assume no liability in connection with providing it or your use of it. Your circumstances may not warrant or require some or all of the safety suggestions, and there may be additional available safety procedures that are not referenced on this webpage.

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Titan Insurance, design, superhero and Savings without the Sacrifice are service marks of THI Holdings (Delaware), Inc. Nationwide Insurance is a service mark of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Price based on March 2010 analysis of available national data for liability-only policies. Subject to underwriting guidelines, review and approval.